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Stewart Downing was the only genuine option with Carlos de Pena struggling to make the transition into the English game. This year there’s Viktor Fischer to throw into the mix and after a fruitful transfer window so far, Boro’s squad is suddenly bulging.

With the 25-man squad limit to consider in the Premier League, Karanka has decisions to make.

He will give Reach a chance to impress. He made it clear last year that the winger could still have a future at the club and Reach started his pre-season in impressive enough fashion with a goal at York.

Equally, Karanka won’t stand in a player’s way if he feels he can’t offer him first team football. Reach needs to be playing at this stage of his career. He’s got a big decision to make.

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What are his strengths?

First things first, he’s got a good footballing brain.

He’s not blessed with blistering pace for a winger (though he’s by no means sluggish), but he’s got superb vision and can pick out a pass.

He offers balance as well. That’s what Boro missed last year when Downing was used in a central role and they were left with no orthodox wide player on the left.

His tactical awareness will have also improved no-end last season as he regularly featured as a left wing-back for Preston.

And he added goals to his game. I’m not one bit surprised by the number of Championship clubs interested.

Where can he improve his game?

Having not seen him in action since he returned from Preston and obviously only seeing brief clips of his loan stint there, Reach may well have improved areas of his game which perhaps let him down.

In the second half of the 2014/15 season he appeared to be lacking a bit of confidence and that had an impact on his game.

Adam Reach is in-demand this summer.

He went missing at times in games and didn’t trouble the opposition full-back as much as he should have done. He had the beating of most, when he was on song.

But he was a key player at Preston last year, which will have hopefully helped to add a bit more responsibility to his game.

He seems to have bulked up a bit as well, which should prevent him being bullied by rough and tough full-backs in the Championship.

Would he be a good signing for Reading?

Absolutely. As he would for most Championship clubs.

But it might not be as easy as that. After getting most of his work done early doors in the transfer market, Aitor Karanka will now turn his attention to monitoring his squad. And he’ll give everyone a chance to impress.

He rates Reach highly and Boro still aren’t spoilt for choice when it comes to left sided players.